Do you find yourself bored with a room in your house, but seem to have hit a brick wall when it comes to inspiration? With the state of the economy, that brick wall often affects finances as well, sometimes severely limiting design options. Timeless Country Decor offers readers 10 tips for the tightest of budgets.

Add a Rug: Country rugs can be a fairly inexpensive way to change up the entire atmosphere of a room. Besides protecting wood floors and keeping dust levels down, they can provide a splash of color to a neutral palette.

Paint: Whether painting just one wall, the molding, or the whole room, paint is a relatively inexpensive way to change the entire look of your home.

Lighting: In my opinion, lighting is one of the most important facets of interior decorating. Lighting can drastically alter the mood of the room. Fluorescent lights are my least favorite, personally. Seriously, have you ever tried putting on makeup under those bulbs? Even if you can’t afford to completely overhaul the room in question’s lighting system, floor and country table lamps can make all the difference. Even better, try three-way light bulbs; at the flick of a switch, you can have three different choices for how you want the light cast!

Candles: Technically a subcategory of lighting, however, I believe country candles deserve a category in and of themselves! Right now I’m in the midst of a complete apartment overhaul, and this beautiful image is what I’m aiming create with my fireplace. Who says your fireplace can’t have a functional use in the heat of summer?

Pillows: In all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, pillows (and pillow covers) can instantly change the color scheme or theme of your room. When I moved into my first apartment, none of my roommates nor I could afford furniture, so we substituted large pillows all around the living room. In my current living situation, we actually use pillows around a low coffee table in place of a traditional dining room table and chairs! Real Simple offers some advice on this topic in their article, “Decorating with Throw Pillows.”

Flowers: “Always keep fresh flowers” was one of my New Years Resolutions 2 years ago…and last year…and this year. Many design experts recommend keeping plants and flowers indoors. F.Y.I – NASA researchers released a list of indoor pollutants along with plants and flowers that reduce these often carcinogenic chemicals. Their recommendation is 1 potted plant per 100 square feet of home space. Not only do you get to choose the type of plant/flowers, but you can get inspired with the vast amount of vases and planters out there; so release your inner green thumb!

Wall Art: On my D.I.Y. / Crafts to-do list for a while now is this “Fabric Panel Wall Art“. Depending on how craft savvy you are,this is a fairly easy and inexpensive project. I predict it could be done some lazy Sunday afternoon for under $20! Look for an update soon on how i fared with this.

Hardware: Switching out hardware is another tweak for your country home that will freshen up a boring piece of furniture. Whether replacing door knobs, drawer knobs, or cabinet handles, the only tool you’ll need is a screwdriver. The most fun (and potentially timeliest!) part of this project will be picking out the new hardware, easily found at hardware store. These little details can really jazz up a piece of furniture, allowing you to showcase your personality!

Mirrors: Want to deceive others (and yourself) of your room’s size? Try playing around with country mirrors in different sizes and shapes to create the look you’re going for. The mirror’s frame can easily be adapted to your country style as well.

Rearranging Furniture: The cheapest of all of these methods is to take what is already yours and to switch it around. Enlist the help of friends or family to help you visualize some creative new ways to place the largest elements of your room. If you’re feeling stuck, try removing one piece, even temporarily, and see what options open up then. Maybe even switch furniture between rooms! Check out this free and AMAZING “Arrange a Room” tool (short registration form required). Couldn’t you spend hours using that ?

Do any of these style tips work for you? How about some before and after pictures?